ATLANTA (ABP) — The North American Mission Board has eliminated some benefits for retiring employees in order to cut costs, prompting some of the SBC agency's 1,100 insured employees and missionaries to retire sooner than planned rather than lose the…
Gregory named to part-time position at Georgetown College in Kentucky
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (ABP) — Joel Gregory, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, has been named a distinguished fellow at Georgetown College in Kentucky. In that part-time consulting role, Gregory will visit the campus several times a year and…
Jimmy Draper sets retirement date, LifeWay names search committee
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Making good on a promise made a year ago, Jimmy Draper, president of Lifeway Christian Resources for 14 years, announced his retirement Feb. 7, to take effect next February. Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's publishing…
Baylor regents OK Sloan resignation, to name search and advisory groups
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Baylor University regents Feb. 4 formally approved the transition of President Robert Sloan to chancellor beginning June 1 and asked two of their officers to name a search committee to seek his replacement. Sloan, who has…
Pastor-lawyer combines talents to help immigrants gain legal status
MCKINNEY, Texas (ABP) — Before Alex Camacho felt God's call to ministry, he planned to become a lawyer. Now he combines his passion for God, law and the Hispanic community into his roles as director of Immigration Services — a…
Austin woman believes citizens can shape immigration policy
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Carmelita Hernandez believes one person can make a difference, even when it comes to big issues like shaping United States immigration policy. And a new law proposed by the Bush administration may offer proof. Hernandez, a…
Congress expected to address ‘broken’ immigration system
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Expect to see change in United States immigration policy during this congressional session, said Baptist activist Suzii Paynter. “Our system is very broken, and the president has made it a priority” to fix the situation, said…
House panel OKs faith-based bill as another lawsuit is filed
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Even as a House panel passed a bill Feb. 17 that would allow religious groups receiving federal funds for job training to discriminate in employment decisions, two civil-rights groups filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania challenging the constitutionality…
VBS: An effective growth strategy
Another View for Feb. 10, 2005 By Dan Carlton Vacation Bible School has proven to be an effective growth strategy for Spring Hill Baptist Church, in Albemarle County just south of the Greene County line. This area has experienced rapid…
In praise of Vacation Bible School
Another View for Feb. 10, 2005 By Becky Johnson I'm flying high. Literally, the plane on which I'm riding as I write this is cruising at an altitude of 33,000 feet. However, in a different sense, I'm flying high with…
Church & People News for Feb. 10, 2005
S T A F F • C H A N G E S J. D. Harmon, to Kearfoot Memorial Church, Martinsville, as pastor. Chris Musick, to Swords Creek Church, Swords Creek, as pastor. David Hess, resigning as pastor of Buckroe…
Conservative Episcopalians support church breakaway bill in Virginia
Conservative Episcopalians have come out in support of a proposed Virginia law that would allow them to leave the denomination and take their church property with them. The proposed law, if passed, would allow churches in the country's largest Episcopal…